Prevalence of self-medication in Brazil and associated factors

Abstract

OBJECTIVE To analyze the prevalence and associated factors regarding the use of medicines by self-medication in Brazil.METHODS This cross-sectional population-based study was conducted using data from the PNAUM (National Survey on Access, Use and Promotion of Rational Use of Medicines), collected between September 2013 and February 2014 by interviews at the homes of the respondents. All people who reported using any medicines not prescribed by a doctor or dentist were classified as self-medication practitioners. Crude and adjusted prevalence ratios (Poisson regression) and their respective 95% confidence intervals were calculated in order to investigate the factors associated with the use of self-medication by medicines. The independent variables were: sociodemographic characteristics, health conditions and access to and use of health services. In addition, the most commonly consumed medicines by self-medication were individually identified.RESULTS The self-medication prevalence in Brazil was 16.1% (95%CI 15.0–17.5), with it being highest in the Northeast region (23.8%; 95%CI 21.6–26.2). Following the adjusted analysis, self-medication was observed to be associated with females, inhabitants from the North, Northeast and Midwest regions and individuals that have had one, or two or more chronic diseases. Analgesics and muscle relaxants were the therapeutic groups most used for self-medication, with dipyrone being the most consumed medicines. In general, most of the medicines used for self-medication were classified as non-prescriptive (65.5%).CONCLUSIONS Self-medication is common practice in Brazil and mainly involves the use of non-prescription medicines; therefore, the users of such should be made aware of the possible risks.

Self-medication among patients with COPD: a cross-sectional analysis in the Brazilian Public Health System

“…6 The drugs most used are in agreement with what was observed in national studies. 7,11,12 This study shows that self-medication among individuals with COPD is high in the Brazilian HCN setting, and is associated with women with low education and a high number of comorbidities. These findings are consistent with a recent cross--sectional population-based study using data from the PNAUM (National Survey on Access, Use and Promotion of Rational Use of Medicines).…”

“…These findings are consistent with a recent cross--sectional population-based study using data from the PNAUM (National Survey on Access, Use and Promotion of Rational Use of Medicines). 12 The authors observed that self-medication was associated with women and individuals that have had one, or two or more chronic diseases. De Oliveira et al, in another national population-based study involving elderly individuals, reported positive association between per capita income and use of non-prescribed drugs.…”

Atenção para prática de automedicação entre portadores de doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica

“…1 Trata-se de uma prática muito frequente no Brasil, com prevalência estimada entre 16 a 35% na população adulta. 2,3 Apesar dos seus benefícios individual e social, sobretudo, quando exercida de forma responsável, esta tem sido associada a riscos como interações medicamentosas, polifarmácia, abuso ou dependência de medicamentos, diagnóstico incorreto e escolha inadequada do tratamento e ao possível aumento dos gastos em saúde. 1,[3][4][5] No artigo publicado nesta edição, Pinto et al conduziram uma análise farmacoepidemiológica que avaliou a prevalência e fatores associados a automedicação entre portadores de doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica (DPOC) tratados no âmbito do Sistema Único de Saúde.…”

“…2,3 Apesar dos seus benefícios individual e social, sobretudo, quando exercida de forma responsável, esta tem sido associada a riscos como interações medicamentosas, polifarmácia, abuso ou dependência de medicamentos, diagnóstico incorreto e escolha inadequada do tratamento e ao possível aumento dos gastos em saúde. 1,[3][4][5] No artigo publicado nesta edição, Pinto et al conduziram uma análise farmacoepidemiológica que avaliou a prevalência e fatores associados a automedicação entre portadores de doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica (DPOC) tratados no âmbito do Sistema Único de Saúde. 6 Os autores encontraram elevado consumo de medicamentos sem prescrição médica na população analisada, principalmente entre mulheres com várias comorbidades e baixa escolaridade e renda familiar.Sabe-se que automedicação entre portadores de doenças crônicas pode afetar a adesão ao tratamento, impactando negativamente nos resultados terapêuticos.…”

Metamizole (Dipyrone) and the Liver: A Review of the Literature

“…37 A crosssectional population-based study performed in Brazil, where metamizole is sold over the counter, analyzed 41 433 individuals and revealed that metamizole is the most used self-medication. 38,39 Figure 1 gives an overview of the legal status of metamizole worldwide according to the literature. 6,[28][29][30][31] Furthermore, it must be taken into account that metamizole is widely used by immigrants, even in countries where the substance is banned.…”